After years of flirting with running clubs, but lacking the confidence to join, Rebecca Hurley finally connected with the Stawell Amateur Athletic Club and broke through for her first win in any sort of foot race on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"I'm really not a runner," she insisted after the five kilometre Stan and Karen Watson Handicap, but on a rough, tough and twisting course adjacent to the Stawell Ironbarks, Hurley's diffidence proved to be unfounded when she narrowly out-gunned in-form veteran Bob Freeland and the fast-finishing Simon Edge.
Inspired by the speed and stamina of husband Dale, a celebrated Great Western footballer who turned to running on retirement, Hurley said: "I am trying to be a positive role model for my kids and taking running more seriously, training three days a week with short runs of about three kilometres."
She wants to progress to longer races but is wisely taking "baby steps" to achieve her goals...and is sure to be well coached by her husband who won back to back championships with the Stawell and Ararat Cross Country Club (2012-13).
"I've built up to six kilometres and started to think I can at least manage an eight. I'm not thinking of running half marathons but for a couple of years now my goal has been to get up to 10 kilometres," she said.
More inspiration was evident when Kade Santuccione emulated the deeds of his sister Sienna a week before by winning the one-kilometre Sub Juniors race from nearest chasers Kayla Membrey and Charlie Dunn.
